Electra Mining Africa exhibitor Phillips South Africa has recently been awarded an order to supply 15 HC20 shuttle cars to Sasol Mining as part of the coal producer’s replacement programme.

The ‘car of the future’, introduced to the market at the International Mining Conference and Expo in Las Vegas in 2012, was developed by Phillips in Beckley, West Virginia, in the US, and is manufactured by Phillips South Africa, which is 26% black owned, in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.

“The car was introduced with new features such as Wi-Fi data transfer to surface, patented four-wheel independent suspension, alternating current variable-frequency drive power for traction, as well as redesigned wheel units, cross shafts, steering brackets and remote control,” says Phillips South Africa MD Larry Cantley.

The Phillips patented frame has been designed to eliminate stress points and carry 12% more load. Phillips’ redesigned and patented wheel unit improves reliability and lowers running cost. The four-wheel independent suspension also reduces maintenance and wear to the frame and components. The company says its customers regard the car as the “safest and most comfortable” car in production.

“From a procurement point of view, the Sasol Mining internal process was one of intense research, involving a project team who visited all the short-listed original-equipment manufacturers in order to present their justified decision to the board,” states Cantley.

Phillips South Africa will have a HC16 shuttle car on display at this year’s Electra Mining exhibition, as well as a shuttle car wheel unit and suspension, its Enersys mine battery and a Phillips-repaired, continuous miner cutter drum.

“The South African mining industry has changed over the years to one of ‘service’. This is exactly what Phillips was built on in 1976 and this continues to be our core focus,” Cantley says.

Founded by Jack and Jimmy Phillips in the US in 1976, Phillips expanded to South Africa with a sales office in 2007. Two years later, the group opened a manufacturing facility in Middelburg.

Ext 1 Stand P22